Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Gill.
Hi Michelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My first job after college was as a fundraiser and event planner for the American Heart Association. I was the New River Valley Director and then moved to Williamsburg as the Colonial Area Director. I moved to Tallahassee and worked on political campaigns and planning events. I then became the Associate Director for the Florida Student Association. I travelled the state of Florida and visited resorts for conference planning and created the Florida National Guard Book Stipend, and later worked for the Habitat for Humanity until my daughter was born.
My step-brother began his own business in Greenville, South Carolina, Speer Operational Technologies. He is a veteran who invented several rescue and medical equipment devices and trains others in that field. I worked for him for five years.
My husband passed away in 2011 when we all got the flu that Christmas. What a crazy unexpected thing! When he passed I realized I needed to make plans for my career and I wanted to be able to stay home with my daughter as well. She had just turned four years old. I started helping local authors with their websites as I had created websites for the nonprofits that I had worked for in the past.
I started getting so many requests to create websites that I ended up creating my business, Buffalo Creek Designs. I now live in the Roanoke Valley on my grandparent’s land, now ours, near Buffalo Creek. I specialize in Author Websites and Small Business/Entrepreneur sites. I enjoy organizing creative people and helping them get their story out. Everyone has a story, and every story matters.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Obviously, it has not been a smooth road. Professionally the only struggle is keeping up with how quickly technology changes and what a big role social media plays in getting your story out. I enjoy people and getting to know my clients so I work hard at keeping up with what is best for their stories.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I think my investment in my clients sets me apart from others. I go above and beyond what they pay me for. I love to see them succeed.
I am a very visual person. Design is my thing. I love when my client allows me creative freedom. You only have a few seconds of anyone’s attention these days so the homepage of a site is your front porch. I think of websites as your home on the internet and you are inviting people in. That front porch better be eye-catching so the viewer gives you their time and professional looking so the viewer trusts you.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was definitely a daddy’s girl growing up. He loved books; he was a book collector. He died when I was sixteen. I became interested in writing at that time which led to my own passion for books. He was an eccentric person and would drag me all over the valley to visit interesting people. I think that is why I love creative people so much.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.
buffalocreekwebdesign.com - Instagram: instagram.com/
rebornsouthernjoy - Facebook: facebook.com/
buffalocreekwebdesign
Image Credits
Tess Flinchum
Matt Rose
Peg Roche
October 26, 2022 at 10:39 am
Great interview with Michelle–beautiful pictures! I have worked with Michelle and found it an extremely helpful experience!